Level 3 - Lesson 38
This lesson stays in school and community life. The dialogues show students asking about leave, choosing a class, checking the campus-neighborhood distance, and finishing homework before hosting or visiting.
Contains 6 words
to request leave
principal; school head
to take leave; to be on vacation
to need; need
school term; semester
homework; school assignment
Contains 4 words
residential neighborhood; community
Contains 2 words
to host or treat guests
这个学期
zhège xuéqī
this school term
需要请假
xūyào qǐngjià
need to request leave
需要休假
xūyào xiūjià
need to take leave
校长需要知道
xiàozhǎng xūyào zhīdào
the principal needs to know
请老师看一下
qǐng lǎoshī kàn yíxià
please ask the teacher to take a look
Situation: A student tells a teacher why and when leave is needed, learns who reviews the written request, and arranges the missed homework.
学生 | student
老师，我明天下午要去医院，可以请假吗？
Teacher, I need to go to the hospital tomorrow afternoon. May I request leave?
需要 for "need"
Use 需要 (xūyào) before a noun or action when that thing or action is necessary, not merely wanted.
Need to do something
Use 需要 (xūyào) before the action that is necessary.
campus
to choose
to choose; choice
to be a guest; to visit someone's home
校园里
xiàoyuán lǐ
on campus
小区离校园不远
xiǎoqū lí xiàoyuán bù yuǎn
the neighborhood is not far from campus
先看小区离校园远不远
xiān kàn xiǎoqū lí xiàoyuán yuǎn bù yuǎn
first check whether the neighborhood is far from campus
选择下午的班
xuǎnzé xiàwǔ de bān
choose the afternoon class
请客吃饭
qǐngkè chīfàn
host/treat people to a meal
去朋友家做客
qù péngyou jiā zuòkè
visit a friend's home as a guest
做完作业
zuò wán zuòyè
finish homework
老师 | teacher
可以。请把时间和为什么请假写下来。
Yes. Please write down the time and why you need leave.
学生 | student
写好以后给谁看？
Who should review it after I finish writing it?
老师 | teacher
先给我，我再交给校长。
Give it to me first, and I will pass it to the principal.
学生 | student
明天下午的作业怎么办？
What should I do about tomorrow afternoon's homework?
老师 | teacher
我发给你，你回来以后交。
I will send it to you. Hand it in after you return.
Situation: A student compares morning and afternoon classes with a teacher and chooses the option that fits a long trip from home to campus.
学生 | student
下学期有上午班和下午班，我应该选哪个？
Next term has a morning class and an afternoon class. Which should I choose?
老师 | teacher
你住的小区离校园远吗？
Is the neighborhood where you live far from campus?
学生 | student
很远，早上坐车需要一个小时。
It is far. The morning trip takes an hour.
老师 | teacher
那就选择下午班，不用太早出门。
Then choose the afternoon class, so you do not have to leave too early.
Situation: A host and a friend set an arrival time that leaves enough time for homework and meal preparation.
朋友 | friend
周六我家请客，你几点来做客？
My family is hosting guests on Saturday. What time will you come?
朋友 | friend
六点。我五点来帮你准备饭也可以。
Six o'clock. I could also come at five to help you prepare the meal.
朋友 | friend
我五点还需要做作业，六点来吧。
I still need to do homework at five, so come at six.
朋友 | friend
好，我六点到，再帮你一起准备。
Okay. I will arrive at six and then help you prepare.
Situation: Two teachers arrange a visit during one teacher's vacation and choose a precise meeting point in the neighborhood near campus.
老师 | teacher
你下周休假，还住在校园旁边的小区吗？
You are on vacation next week. Are you still staying in the neighborhood beside campus?
老师 | teacher
对，小区离校园很近。
Yes. The neighborhood is very close to campus.
老师 | teacher
那我星期三去看你，可以吗？
Then may I visit you on Wednesday?
老师 | teacher
可以，下午三点在小区门口见。
Yes. Let's meet at the neighborhood entrance at three in the afternoon.
In 我需要休假 (wǒ xūyào xiūjià), 需要 (xūyào) comes before the action that is necessary. 我想休假 (wǒ xiǎng xiūjià) only says the speaker wants to take leave.
Need a thing
Use 需要 (xūyào) before a noun phrase when the person needs that thing.
In 我需要一本课本 (wǒ xūyào yì běn kèběn), 一本课本 (yì běn kèběn) is the thing needed.
需要休假 (xūyào xiūjià) states the needed action before asking for leave.
这个学期我需要休假。
I need to take leave this term.
需要 (xūyào) introduces the required check before choosing a class.
需要先看小区离校园远不远。
You need to first check whether the neighborhood is far from campus.
The short answer 需要 (xūyào) works because the previous question already asked whether leave is needed.
需要，我请老师看一下。
Yes. I will ask the teacher to take a look.
需要 (xūyào) comes directly before the noun phrase 一本课本 (yì běn kèběn).
我需要一本课本。
I need a textbook.
想休假 (xiǎng xiūjià) expresses a desire. Use 需要休假 (xūyào xiūjià) when taking leave is necessary.
我想休假。
I want to take leave.
这个学期我需要休假。
I need to take leave this term.
校长需要知道。
The principal needs to know.
需要先看小区离校园远不远。
You need to first check whether the neighborhood is far from campus.
我需要一本课本。
I need a textbook.
我想休假。
I want to take leave.
Dialogue 02: Choosing a Class Around the Commute, Turn 3
Time the commute requires
很远，早上坐车需要一个小时。
It is far. The morning trip takes an hour.
Dialogue 03: Setting a Guest Arrival Time, Turn 3
An action that still needs doing
我五点还需要做作业，六点来吧。
I still need to do homework at five, so come at six.
需要 (xūyào) states that a thing or action is necessary. Compare 我需要休假 (wǒ xūyào xiūjià), where leave is necessary, with 我想休假 (wǒ xiǎng xiūjià), which only states a desire. 必须 (bìxū) is stronger and says someone must do the action; 需要 (xūyào) identifies what the situation calls for. Before a noun, 我需要一本课本 (wǒ xūyào yì běn kèběn) means I need a textbook. 需要 (xūyào) can also answer a yes-or-no question by itself, as in 需要，我请老师看一下 (xūyào, wǒ qǐng lǎoshī kàn yíxià).
